A noun for “beard” in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from the root ᴹ√SPANAG (Ety/SPÁNAG), where the [[aq|initial [sp-] became the voiceless spirant [f]]]. It reappeared in the 1960s as an element in the name Q. Andafangar “Longbeards” (PM/321 note #21).
Conceptual Development: In the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s, Tolkien gave ᴱQ. fange as cognate of G. fang “a long beard” (GL/34). Elsewhere in the same document he had ᴱQ. vanga as cognate of G. bang “beard”, but both these words were deleted (GL/21). Other early “beard” words include ᴱQ. velte under the early root ᴱ√VETE (QL/101), and ᴱQ. poa as a cognate to G. pau “a beard” (GL/63).
fanga noun "beard" (SPÁNAG)